Exhaust propulsion engine, including means for igniting the fuel within exhaust chambers exteriorly of the cylinders



94, I, f` v EXHAUST PRoPULsIoN ENGINE,A INCLUDING MEANS EORIGNIT FUEL. WITHIN EXHAUST CHAMBERS ExTERIoRLy -oE THE cyLINDERs Filed Feb. 27, 195o 2 Sl-lEETS--SHEET l INVENTOE HaBo/.D G /Ww-/e 'l //J ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 H. G. MYHR 2,609,657

ExHAUsT PRoPULsIoN ENGINE, INCLUDING MEANS EUR IGNITING THE FUEL WITHIN EXHAUST CHAMBERS ExTERIoHLY oF THE cyLINDEHs Filed Feb. 27, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 INVENTOR /eoLD GT MYH@ //S ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 EXHAUST PRPULSION ENGINE, INCLUD- ING MEANS FOR IGNITING THE FUEL WITHIN EXHAUST CHAMBERS EXTE- RIORLY OF THE CYLINDERS Harold G. Myhr, Pacific Grove, Calif. y

Application February 27, 1950, Serial No. .146,413 Y 6 Claims. (Cl. Gil-35.6)

This invention relates to a A:let .or exhaust propulsion engine and has for one of itsobjects the production of a simple and eillcient means for driving a vehicle by means of the exhaust which is ignited at the point of discharge of the exhaust from the exhaust chambers or funnels of the engine.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient arrangement of compression cylinders, exhaust chambers and control valve mechanism for discharging exhaust from theexhaust chambers of an engine to create driving power. v

Other objects and Vadvantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a four-cycle combustion and exhaust. drive engine, certain parts being shown in section; t

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the eneine;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engine taken through one of the cylinders and the exhaust chamber or funnel carried thereby, certain parts being shown inv elevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the exhaust chamber or funnel and compression chamber control valve of one cylinder, certain parts of the engine being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the compression cylinders showing the compression intake control valve and casing in longitudinal section, certain parts of the engine being shown in elevation;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the valve actuating mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional vievvof the inner end ofthe spring supporting housings for the exhaust chambers;

Figure 8` is a side elevational View of the carburetor pipe which feeds the fuel to the engine.

By referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is shown an engine of the fourcycle type having four primary cylinders ID, II, I2 and I3 carried by an engine base I4, which base I4 is mounted upon a suitable vehicle V. A crank shaft I5 is journalled in the base upon the bearings such as the bearings I6. The crank shaft I5 is connected to the piston of the cylinders in the conventional manner and at one end to the operating motor I'I of any suitable type having a clutch I8, a generator I9, a starter motor ,20, and a battery ZI, shown in diagram form in Figure 1. The base I4 is"` provided with a conventional oil pan 22 and-drain plug 23.

Thebase I4 carriesa suitablelongitudinally extending cam shaft 24 carrying'a pair of valve actuating cams 25 and 26 to each cylinder, :for operating the valves'of each-cylinder. 'Gears 2 1 and 21a shown in dotted linesin Figure 1 drive the camshaft 24from the crank shaft I5 to rotate the shaft 24 and to open and'close thelintake and exhaust valves of each'cylinder in proper timed relation, as is conventional with engines of this type. A casing 28 encloses the'gears 2l and 21 and supports a distributor 29 and a conventional coil 30, all of a conventional variety; A spark plug wire conduit 3Ifencases the ignition wires 3 2 leading to the sparkplugs 33, 34,:v 35 and 36 carried bythe exhaust 'chambers or funnels 31, 38, 39 and 40 ofthe cylinders I0 to I3 respectively. The conduit 3I is supported by suitable hangers 4I and 42 which are anchored at suitable points to the cylinders of the engine.

Each cylinder I0, II, I2 and I3 is substantially similar and is constructed in detail as'shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. vA suitable c arburetor 43 of a conventional type is connected to a fuel supply line in the usual manner. and the carburetor 43 is carried by and communicates with the intake manifold 44 which leads to and communicates with the fuel intake 'casing 45 of each cylinder. They vright-a .ngularly disposed outlet connections 4 5 at the ends vof the manifold 44 provide a connection with the fuel intake casings 45 ofthe respectivecylinders IB, II, I2 and I3. Each intake casing 45 is provided with a discharge port 4'I communicatingwith the interior of the cylinder, near its outer end, such as the cylinder` I3 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, for supplying fuel to the cylinder'. A valve 48 is normally seated upon the valve seatv 49 to prevent fuel from passing from theintake chamber 50 out through the discharge 'port 4I. A'coil spring 5I carried by the stemf52 of thevalve 48 yieldably holds the valve upon'its seat in the conventional manner until the stem 52 is moved longitudinally to open the valve Aby means of the cam 26 which is actuated by therotation of the cam shaft 24. f

The stem 52 is directly operated through the medium of the plunger 53 which isv s lidably mounted through the valveactuating housing 54, the housing 54 being anchored to the base I4. There is a valve actuating housing 54A foreach cylinder valvemechanism. Each housing 54 supports a rocker arm 55-which is pivotedeat 5B and engages at one end the reciprocating actuating plunger 5l which is adjustably secured thereto to facilitate proper action. rIhis plunger 5? is carried by the housing 54, as shown in Figure 6, and is slidable therethrough. This plunger 5l is actuated by the cam 25 of the shaft 24. The outer end 575a of the rocker arm 55 is adjustably connectedto the end of the valve stem 58 of the exhaust discharge mechanism. A similar actuating mechanism is provided for the discharge mechanism of each cylinder.

An exhaust Chamber or funnel, VVas previously stated, is carried by each cylinder in a mannera's shown in Figure l, and themanner in which the explosive power of the exhaust which is disf charged from the exhaust chambers.

1t should be understood that all desired auxil-f iary equipment may be used. or added to the en gine for eicient operation in actual operation'.

Without departing from the spirit of the invenf tion. r

' The engine operates in the same general man# ner as a four-cycle engine of the conventional type, but the fuel is drawn into the intake casv ingsLthen to the cylinders, then from the cylin funnel 48 is mounted upon the cylinder YI3 is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Each` funnel il municates with the port El! leading from the 1interior of the adjacent cylinder, such as the oylin der I3 in Figures 3 and 4. The fuel is adapted to passAfrorn the cylinder i3 through the port Gil into the innrcliamber 59.' When vthe 'valve 'Si which. is.' carried vby the As'te'hn L58 is Withdrawn trom its seat 52, theffueltvill pass out through the openvalvesat 6'2 'tvva'rd the open flaredend S3 olf the lexlfiaust chamber `or funnel dll. The chamber or lflllr'l'rel 4B 'is provided With'a 'hollow sleeve GQ atits Hinner 'end and a vpistonl ls i'xed to theL stern '58. The 'pistn'l -is slid'ably'niounted and snugly fits into the "sleeve '64 rand 'is adapted to fegualiae the Apressl'ire in the chamber' 'E'S'loetvveeh` the .valve '6l vandthepis'tonil and hold thejelvej'l blesse until the valve is forcibly moved A'tq en obenjpslun ty swinging for fthe rocker anhand the 'opration of the 'cain'and $116; telihp'ft valve 'actuating "Structure s'hov'fn in detail in 'Figure "A coil spring 'es amounted the cotter prl's "61 'against Which the -otltefr end of the' spr'nfgfvabits' to hl'dft'he spring' in' posi,- tlon. 'rhlsstrctefacilitates the 'qlek'asse'mbly andreplajcmetf parte 'when desired Asi'afrk plug lsearnedvbyeaelrexhausrelramperfor funnel"as'previslyfstated- The mounting'ofeach spark'plg isfsin'lilar tothat shown vvith 'respet tothe spark'plug 3S ywhich 'is carriedby'tle 'chamberor funnel "49, shown Ain Figures?, "land 5, The spark'plug is placed Vjust beyond 'the valveseat, such 'asthe 'valve vsea-t 132, as shovvn in'Ei'g'ur'esS, e 'and 5, so "as tn 'ignite thech'arge orfuely as itis j'ected'outwardly'beyond 'the valve :seatvlhen the valve Si 'isop'eiled in 'proper jtim'ed relation j vvithy vthe "operation "of the 'valve dfandthe'pistonfof the respective cylinders such as 'the .piston P shown 'in Iiiig'ures 3 and'5. The'sparkplig's are electrically connected to the ignitionvir'es `32, timer, etc., in theconventional manner, to'firethesp'ark plugs for the respective exhaust chambers or funnels at Aproperly timed intervals. The cylinders, fuel intake casings, and exhaust chambers arel preferably provided With'radiating ribs or :dns 63 to facilitate coolingr of the engine and its associated parts.

The engine is preferably mounted upon a suitable vehicle or support kWithin the path of air passing through a suitable air passage such as the passage shown at A indotted lines in Figure 2. The discharge ends of the exhaust chambers face rearwardly and the air froin the air passage passes rearwardly over the engine and exteriorly of the exhaust chambers in a direction opposite to the direction of travel ofthe vehicle Vupon which the engine is mounted. The vehicle vcarrying 'the engine'will be driven'forwardlyl bythe ders'to the exhaust chambers or funnels where itis then ignited exteriorly of the cylinders. The valves ofthe intake casing and exhaust charnvbers are operated in proper timed relation to ated parts. The engine lies in a horizontal plane and the exhaust chambers all discharge rearwardly for forward driving power. The auxiliary operating motor. H and its associated parts it, 19,25 and 21 Eall are of a conventional type and are utilized for'slarting purposes and efficient operation. *-hesefelernents however, may Ybe Iof aminimum 'sizeandrpo'werffor the main-driving power is obtained by thefiringo the exhaust discharge as set forth, after starting.

The sequence of Yop'erationis as follows Beginning withth'e suction stroke, and with the piston at ia point of`v greatest distance fromthe crank shaft, vthe Vexhaust Vvalve 6 I closes fand the intake valve 'S/opens. The exhaust, valve' fil Vremains closed as the piston travels toward` the crank shaft. As the :piston reaches the end of its "inward stroke, the intake valve "48 closes and while the piston travelsoutwardly on litsfcoxnpression stroke, the exhaust Vvalve Qi still remains closed. As the piston reaches the-endof its'outvvard or` compression stroke, the exhaust valve El opens and the intakevalvefl remains closed. As the exhaust valve 6l opens the 'fuel passes through the valve 6l and into the exhaust chamber, where thecompressed 'fuel is -ignited` by the -spark plug `d6.` The spark-plugl is timed 'to re just after the exhaust valve-l opens, and 'while the -exhaust valve 51 is open all-of thejfuel oneither side of the `valve 6l will `ice-ignited.v rhisfactionexerts a thrust -upon the piston, as Wellasthrough the exhaust chamber, to keep the enginejturning. As the piston) travels toward the crank shaft, on thepowercstroke, the intake valve 4S remainpclosed and the exhaust valve 6! remainsoperi.V When the piston-reaches the point nearest the crankshaft and "returns on its exhaust stroke the "in-take valve dil-ifemains closed. 'The-exhaust valve 6,47'v remains open until the piston reaches the limitv of A its outward stroke. At this pointtheexhaustvalve'l closes andthe intake valvergi opens. The operation above set forth continues in the order described.

It should be understood thatm cert/ain detail changes in construction jand -arrangernentff parts may be employed Without departing from the spirit of theinventioneso-long assu'ch' changes fall 'within'the 'scope of the-appended claims.

.Having described "the invention, 'what 'is olaiined asnevv is:

1. kIn Vcon'ibinatorl i with a vehicle, an exhaust propulsion engine, "s'aid engine' comprising a cylinder, a piston operating'theein, aiuel-'air-:nlixture Vintake control 'means for "supplying a fuel vmixture "to the cylinder 'at 1Atimed intervals, an exhaust chamber r'e'ceiving'the fuel'mixturefronl 'the`cylinder attirned intervala'fsaid cylinder having keport communicating 'witnsaid chamber,

said exhaust chamber having a discharge outlet extending rearwardly of the engine, a valve for opening and closing said port at timed intervals, ring' means for the fuel mixture located beyond the valve, means for actuating the firing means at timed intervals for exploding the fuel adjacent the discharge 'outlet within'the exhaust chamber in timed relation to the opening of said valve for driving said vehicle forwardly as the exhaust of the red fuel is expelled outwardly of the discharge outlet of the exhaust chamber and rearwardly of said vehicle, said valve comprising a valve head, a sleeve, a second piston in said sleeve spaced from said valve head to balance pressure against the valve head and prevent accidental opening of the valve as fuel enters the exhaust chamber from the cylinder, a stem supporting the valve head and piston of the valve, a spring normally holding the valve in a closed position, and an actuating means engaging said valve stem for opening said valve.

2. In combination with a vehicle, an exhaust propulsion engine, said engine comprising a cylinder, a driving piston operating therein, a piston actuating means, a fuel-air mixture intake control means for supplying a fuel mixture'to the cylinderl at timed intervals, an exhaust chamber receiving the fuel mixture from the cylinder at timed intervals, said cylinder having a port communicating with said chamber, said exhaust chamber having a discharge outlet extending rearwardly of the engine, a valve for opening and closing said port at timed intervals, firing means for the fuel located beyond the valve, means for actuating the firing means at timed intervals for exploding the fuel adjacent the discharge outlet within the exhaust chamber at the time the fuel enters the exhaust chamber and the valve is opened for driving said vehicle forwardly as the exhaust of the fired fuel is expelled outwardly of the discharge outlet of the exhaust chamber and rearwardly of said vehicle, said Valve comprising a valve head, a sleeve, a second piston in said sleeve spaced from said valve head to balance exhaust chamber from the first mentioned cylinder, a stem supporting the valve head and pisoutlet port as it passes through the dischargeA voutlet to produce an exhaust propulsion force.

ton of the valve, a spring normally holding the Y valve in a closed position, an actuating means engaging said valve stem for opening said valve, said actuating means comprising a rocker arm engaging said valve stem, and an actuating cam and tappet means for rocking said rocker arm at timed intervals.

3. In combination with a vehicle, an exhaust propulsion engine, said engine comprising a cylinder, a piston operating therein, a piston actuating means, a fuel-air mixture, intake control means for supplying a fuel mixture to the cylinder at timed intervals, an exhaust chamber receiving the fuel mixture from the cylinder at timed intervals, said exhaust chamber having a discharge outlet extending rearwardly of the engine, a valve for opening and closing said port at timed intervals, ring means for the fuel located beyond the valve, means for actuating the firing means at timed intervals for exploding the fuel adjacent the discharge outlet within the exhaust chamber in timed relation to the opening of said valve for driving said vehicle forwardly as the exhaust of the fired fuel is expelled outwardly of the discharge outlet of the exhaust chamber and rearwardly of said vehicle, said valve comprising a valve head, a sleeve, a second piston in said sleeve spaced from said valve head to balance pressure against theL valve head and prevent accidentaly opening 'of the valve as fuel enters the exhaustl chamber frornth'e first-mentioned cylinder, a stem supportingthe valve head and pistonv of the valve, a `spring normally holding the valve in a closed positioman actuating means engaging saidvalv'e'stem for opening said valve, an open ended. sleeve encasing said spring, and tranevers'ely. extending c'otter p ins spanning said open ended Qsle'ev'e and abutting the spring for removalply retaining the spring in said sleeve.

4. In combination with an auxiliary operating motor and controlmeansrtherefor, an exhaust propulsion engine havingan piston actuating crank shaft connected to said motor, a plurality of cylinders, pistons operating therein and Vconnected to said crank shaft, a fuel-air mixture intake means supplying fuel-air mixture to each of said cylinders, control means for controlling the passage of a fuel mixture from" the intake means to the cylinder, cam means for actuating the control means at timed intervals, an exhaust chamber for receiving exhaust from each cylinder, each cylinder having a port communicating with an exhaust chamber, each exhaust chamber having an exhaust discharge outlet and a flared outer discharge end, a valve for opening and closing said port, cam means for actuating said last mentioned valve at timed intervals, a spark plug carried adjacent the discharge outlet of each exhaust chamber, and means to re the exhaust fuel at timed intervals with the opening of said 5. In combination with la vehicle, an exhaust propulsion engine, said engine comprising a primary cylinder, a primary piston in said cylinder, means for actuating said piston, an intake casing carried by said cylinder, said intake casing having a discharge port communicating with the interior of said cylinder for supplying a fuel-air mixture to the cylinder, valve means for opening and closing said port at timed intervals relative to the movement of said piston, an exhaust funnel carried by said cylinder, said funnel having a hollow sleeve communicating with said cylinder, a second piston slidable in said sleeve, a valve stem carried by said second piston, an exhaust valve carried by said stem, said funnel having an exhaust port, said exhaust valve adapted to open and close said exhaust port of said funnel, means for actuating said valve stem in timed relation with the movement of said primary piston, said second piston being adapted to equalize the pressure in said chamber between the exhaust valve and said second piston, a spark plug carried by said funnel outwardly of said exhaust valve, and means for actuating the spark plug to ignite mixture passing outwardly of the exhaust funnel in timed relation to the opening of the exhaust valve.

6. In combination with a vehicle, an exhaust propulsion engine, said engine comprising a plurality of primary cylinders, a primary piston in each cylinder, means for actuating the piston of each cylinder, an intake casing for each cylinder, each intake casing having a, discharge port communicating with the interior of a companion cylinder for supplying a fuel-air mixture to the cylinder, valve means for opening and closing each port at timed intervals relative to the movement of each piston, an exhaust funnel for each cylinder, each funnel having a flared outer end, a hollow sleeve carried by and communicating with each companion cylinder, a second balancing piston slidable in each sleeve, an exhaust valve 'connected to e'ah balahon isltom -a'h Hnl having an exhaut port, 1511112- V@id zaus'.. valves adapted to open and fclos'H-'said *exhaust ports, means for aotuatin'g `said1exhaut ports timed of 'this :fpatnt:

STATES PATENTS Nai Date 'alkih 4 sept. 17. 1907 cook' sept. 2o, 1910 jGddard July 14, 1914 Dale Mar. 1'5, 1932 Miighaus June 2s, 193s Mami@ June 20. 195o 

